With a substantial part of the permanent dinosaur galleries at the London Natural History Museum being closed for refurbishment this summer, dinosaur fans can have their insatiable thirst for all things Dinosauria quenched with a trip to a new exhibition which is due to open at the museum next month.

The exhibition entitled “Age of the Dinosaur” combines specimens from the museum’s extensive fossil collection with video, computer generated images as well as live-size, animatronic dinosaurs such as Tarbosaurus, the giant long-neck Camarasaurus and the speedy Gallimimus.

Staff at the museum are busy settling the animatronic models into their new home, in readiness for the exhibition opening on April 22nd. Visitors will be transported back to realistic Jurassic and Cretaceous settings to experience sounds, smells and sights from the Mesozoic. The lifelike dinosaurs have been supplied by the Japanese animatronic manufacturer Kokoro based in Tokyo. Plans to ship some of the models had been interrupted as a result of the recent devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit the north of Japan.

The Tarbosaurus, a close relative of Tyrannosaurus rex is one of the highlights of the tour, and this particular Theropod will be on display along with models of smaller meat-eaters such as Oviraptor and Velociraptor.

Interpretation Developer at the Natural History Museum, Georgina Bishop commented as the large exhibits were carefully wheeled into place:

“Everyone loves dinosaurs, don’t they? Complete with sounds, scenery and scientific specimens, Age of the Dinosaur gives visitors the chance to really experience the land of these giants – a must for any budding dinosaur experts.”